The Dredd tale was superb, it confounded my expectations with where it went and ended up with the story. Refreshing to be surprised and amused (darkly) by Dredd again.

Mike Dowling is a top artist, stands as equal to the other talented artists (Sean Phillips has, I seem to remember perhaps Chris Weston also...) who've 'done' Devlin as it were. And this opener from Rory has got me hooked.

The Meg remains in very good form. I really enjoyed the Dredd a nice one, off centre one off and man I love Nick Dyer's art so all good here. Anderson I've been enjoying up to now but this episode felt by and large to just not move things on. Its as if the story was commissioned but didn't quite fill the space it was meant to and had tooo beee sttrrreettcccchhhheeddd. Still lets see how it progresses from here, as I say its been good to date.

Movie Dredd was fun enough. The 'happy' ending felt a little cranked on and forced into place, but overall probably my favourite movie Dredd story to date.

Now normally I'd leave Dark Dominion to the end - after all its bloomin' brilliant, I'm loving it, which defies all expectation. After all like Proudhuff I'm well and truly done with the Dark Judges. Haven't really like them for the longest time and I'm not Nick Percival's biggest fan. Here however with the glorious 'Alien' vibe superbly in place everything just clicks together perfectly. The scene were the survivors wakes in the hibanation chamber and then explores the surrounding of death is just chilling and gloriously realised.

But there's a bigger issue in the Meg this week and one I've genuinely approached with an open mind and the return of Devlin Waugh without John Smith is a big deal... except its not... it loved glorious and Mike Dowling produces typically fantastic work. Storywise its not bad... not bad at all... just not great... and I couldn't help but wonder... alas wondering will do me no good and I've got to take this on face value and will continue to do so. So on those terms not a bad start and enough to give me hope.

The added bonus is the floppie, previously normally unread as its normally been stories I have is starting to become essential reading as again it cover material I don't own. Here the 'Whatever happened to' stories are hit and miss... or rather hit and mah. Nothing is terrible but not much (Tweak really) is great.Still the fact that its new material is great news and more than makes up for this months lukewarm text article.

That was a cracking meg. Strongest in a while, even without Lawless. Really enjoyed the Dredd, a very strong one parter. I find the 'Dredd' stories unnecessary but it was well executed and ended well. Anderson is barreling along nicely and Waugh had a very strong start. I do find Mr Percivals art a bit confusing to follow if wonderfully atmospheric. All in all though I'd say every strip is a hit and a stronger lineup than the Prog which has been a while for me with the Meg.

The ending of the Miller piece was odd – quite a positive note after a fairly critical piece on the whole.

As for the rest of the Meg, I really enjoyed that Dredd – superb in both script and art. DD and Anderson are fine, and Dredd was OK, although I wasn't keen on that ending either. (Either he should have been taken down by Dredd or been smart enough to figure out a workaround. The bittersweet just felt a bit pat.)

Devlin Waugh is something I admit I'm going to have difficulty with, largely on the basis John Smith has such a distinctive voice. This first episode has a decent enough set-up and some nice art, but Rory McConville for me hasn't quite nailed it yet. I hope he does. (Also: blimey regarding Rory McConville’s work rate. It seems he's writing a really big chunk of 2000 AD and the Meg of late. Fair play to him.)

new devlin was good i was in the "if its not smith whats the point" camp but now reading it its very good i have high hopes for kek ws indigo prime now

<mode="flamewar-bait">I don't get why John Smith's writing seems to be receiving quite so much unrequited love.

Yes, he's written some good stuff (like early Indigo Prime and Leatherjack) but a fair quantity of his published output (e.g. Pussyfoot 5, Slaughterbowl and Tyranny Rex) are one-note strips that disappeared up their own backsides. And don't get me started on his Dredd.

Even Cradlegrave, his best work for years, was really just an extended Future Shock. (Heck, it probably would have been a Tharg's 3rillers if published today.)

Writing speech punctuated with ':' & '/' symbols does not make someone a visionary, IMHO.</mode>

I think John Smith is an excellent writer and it is a shame that he is seemingly no longer in 2000ad and the meg. He had a very distinct voice and was not afraid to take risks with his stories - one of my main criticisms of the recent Meg and 2000ad is a lot of the stories (in my opinion of course) are a bit safe and generic and Smith was certainly neither of those so for me it is a big loss.